Men Are More Willing Than Ever to Move for Their Wives' Jobs

Newsflash: Not all husbands feel threatened by their wives' careers. In fact, a new survey conducted by the moving company Mayflower shows that nearly half of Americans know someone who recently moved for the wife's job, and far more than that would support relocation for that reason.

Newsflash: Not all husbands feel threatened by their wives' careers. In fact, a new survey conducted by the moving company Mayflower shows that nearly half of Americans know someone who recently moved for the wife's job, and far more than that would support relocation for that reason.

Surprised? Don't be. "You can track that change to the shift in the number of women going to college," points out Fred Medway, PhD, a psychology professor for the University of South Carolina. The increase of graduates means women aren't just getting more jobs; they're getting better jobs. "Hiring really depends upon the educational factor. Companies want to hire the most competent person," says Dr. Medway.

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But with the growth in promising career opportunities for women comes the all-too-often necessity of relocating. "The kind of job offers are changing. Now it's about money and benefits and people find that increasingly hard to pass up, even if the job is in another state," Dr. Medway explains. But moving for a wife's occupation isn't out of the question anymore. "The attitude toward relocation has changed positively," Dr. Medway says. "Millennials tend to have fewer preconceived notions about who should hold the breadwinning role and are more comfortable sharing the career spotlight." According to the survey, 72% of young men and women support this type of move compared to only 59% of the Boomer generation.

Still, he cautions that if you're planning on making the move for a new position, come to the decision as a couple. "The effects of moving are negative when one party feels like they didn't have a choice. Not only will they be unhappy about leaving but also they often have difficulty making connections in the new place." If you have children, Dr. Medway says they could pick up on this pessimistic attitude, and that can affect your whole family.

If your spouse is dragging his feet about making a big move to benefit your career, Dr. Medway suggests saying, "What if we do this opportunity for me, but next time we'll do the opportunity for you?" Sharing success equally allows the relationship to stay strong even during a major change.

Would you ever relocate for a job? Do you think your partner would be willing to move for yours? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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